UN launches #TheHumanRace against the climate crisis clock
The UN and exercise app Strava team up to challenge the world to log 100 minutes of physical activity to carry an urgent climate message to world leaders
Get moving if you can and help the UN get world leaders to put the need to halt climate change at the top of their agendas
To get the world racing against the climate crisis clock, the UN’s humanitarian office, UNOCHA, is launching #TheHumanRace – a global challenge for climate action in solidarity with people in the world’s most disaster-prone countries and those hardest hit by climate change.
The climate emergency is wreaking havoc across the world at a scale that people and humanitarian organizations on the front lines cannot manage.
Droughts, heatwaves, raging wildfires and horrific floods are shattering the lives of millions of people who are losing their lives at worst and at best their homes and livelihoods. And this is just a glimpse of what lies ahead if we fail to act on climate change. Time is running out.
#TheHumanRace is taking place with support from some of the biggest names in sports, and in partnership with other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, the Red Cross Movement and climate activists.
Hosted on exercise app , #TheHumanRace challenges users around the world to run, ride, swim, walk or do any activity of their choice for a cumulative 100 minutes between 16 - 31 August in solidarity with the world's most vulnerable people. Anyone unable to take part physically can also sign up to support our call to action via the campaign microsite.
#TheHumanRace culminates in the week of World Humanitarian Day, 19 August. In the race against the climate crisis, no one should be left behind, including those already facing humanitarian crises.
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, says the climate emergency is a race we are losing, 'but it is a race we can win … let’s lace up our running shoes and win the climate race for us all.'
Brazilian ultramarathon athlete and environmental lawyer Fernanda Maciel, one of the supporting athletes, says she's excited to run 'for the most important goal in our lifetime: to save our planet and the people living on it. We run every day, for ourselves. Why not run for something bigger? Everybody should join this campaign because we need compassion. It is time to run together.'
Strava CEO Michael Horvath urges everyone to get involved: 'With over 88 million athletes in 195 countries, the Strava community has the power to help unlock solutions to some of the world’s most critical problems. That’s why we invite people everywhere to join this challenge to raise awareness of climate change and its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.'
Each sign-up will help carry the message to world leaders at the UN climate summit, COP26, in November: Solidarity begins with developed countries delivering on their decade-old pledge of US$100 billion annually for climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries.
https://www.strava.com/challenges/The-Human-Race
